Search Underway for Missing Plane with 10 Passengers in Norton Sound

A search is ongoing for a Bering Air Caravan flight that went missing over Alaska's Norton Sound while carrying ten people, including nine passengers and a pilot. The aircraft, a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, departed Unalakleet for Nome at 2:37 p.m. on February 6 and lost contact less than an hour later, approximately 12 miles offshore. Rescue efforts are hindered by poor weather conditions, including low visibility and light snow, as teams from the Nome Volunteer Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, and National Guard conduct ground and aerial searches. Concerns have been raised about the safety of air travel in Alaska due to recent aviation incidents, including two fatal crashes earlier in the month. Local authorities have urged the public not to form independent search parties to ensure safety during the operation. U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan expressed his support for the families of those on board and the rescue teams involved in the search.